Automatic shaping machine



Feb. 8, 1938. ONSRIJD 2,107,578

AUTOMATIC SHAPING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l I Feb. 8,1938.

R. ONSRUD 2,107,578

AUTOMATIC SHAPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 24, 1957 I ll"96-24%; X WQM Feb. 8, 1938. R ONSRUD 2,107,578

AUTOMATIC SHAPING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fiwmflwwz,9%637266 (5y i Ivy-WW %\/Z M (ifrz zgm'.

Feb. s, 1938. R, N D 2,107,578

AUTOMATIC SHAPING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 XSRN l 1e3 l I Z Hum]! g T g g .58 5 F1 QWJM azw z d.

Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rud Machine Works,poration of Illinois Inc., Chicago, Ill., a cor- Application May 24,1937, Serial No. 144,398

4 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for shaping or turning small circularor rectangular or other intermediate forms of regular or irregularoutline, oval or elliptical, such as for example toy wheels, radio dialadjustment buttons having an integral indicating point, brush backs,etc.

An object of the invention is to produce a machine of this characterhaving a pair of rotary work and pattern supports arranged toalternately come into operative position with reference to a cutter anda pattern guide. This enables the removal of completed articles andreplacement of blanks while the machine continues its work. There arenumerous other objects of the invention such as providing the newconstruction in the form of an attachment for application to a standardtype of routing machine whereby the usefulness of the routing machine isextended to other classes of work than that for which these machines arenormally used.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide improved meanscontrolled by the operator for effecting a shift of work supporting turntables into and out of cooperative relationship with a rotating cutterand in connection with a coordinated automatic clamping and releasemeans for the objects operated upon.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by means of a constructionas illustrated in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a router equipped with the improvedshaping and turning mechamsm.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the attachment as indicated by the line 22 ofFig. 1 and with the supporting table of the router partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showingdrive and clutch connections for separate work supporting turn tables.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail to show the drive shaft for one of the turntables and is taken on the line 44 of Fig. 5-

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the two turn tables as indicated bythe'line 55 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan section showing a turn table drive means, and asindicated by the line li6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section as indicated by the line 1-1 ofFig. 2, and shows a handle by which the turn table unit may be manuallyshifted.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail in vertical section as indicated by theline 8-8, Fig. 5, illustrating automatic clamping means.

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, showingthe securing means for the attachment by which it is fastened to thework table of the router.

Fig. 10 is a face view of a clutch element, its supporting shaft beingin section as indicated by the line ill-I0 on Fig. 3.

Routing machines of the type shown in Fig. but without the attachmentare quite commonly in use on an extensive variety of work, but are notsuitable for the rapid production of small, more or less circular orelliptical shaped articles which may be formed by rotating the work asguided by a pattern bearing against a fixed roller, and in connectionwith a high speed cutter.

The axis of the rotating cutter is fixed, but the cutter may bereciprocated axially into and out of operative position by a foottreadle. The foot treadle has linkage connections within the framecasting of the router, for shifting the cutter spindle up and down.

The turning and shaping attachment is a machine having an individualmotor drive, independent of the drive means for the cutter spindle.There is a rigid base for the attachment which is clamped to the worktable of the routing machine, and pivoted on this base is a sectorshapedcasting or swing bracket which supports the motor and operatingconnections for the attachment. The rigid base of the attachmentsupports a small pneumatic ram comprising a fixed cylinder, with airpressure leads to its opposite ends, and a piston. The piston rodcommunicates motion to the swing bracket through a clutch operatinglever. This arrangement is provided so that, as the swing bracket ismoved to bring one of the work supporting rotary elements intocooperative relationship with the cutter, that element will be clutchedto the drive and the other rotary work supporting element will beunclutched from the drive.

The air leads for the ram are connected with a foot-operated valvemechanism mounted on the floor.

The working 01' this machine is easily controlled. In preparing it forproduction of a specified article, patterns conforming to the outline orthe article are first screwed down onto the turning supports. The propercutter is placed in the chuck which may be lowered to the correctoperating position by use of a foot treadle latchable in its setposition. One of the rough blocks of wood or like material from whichthe manufactured articles are produced is placed on one of the patternand work supporting turning devices, then this turning device is, by amovement of the swing bracket, brought into cooperative relation withthe cutter as determined by a central fixed guide roller which thepattern engages.

The swing table may be operated by. hand or by means of the pneumaticram. In either case automatic action of the clutch takes place so thatonly the turning device in cooperative relation with the cutter will berotated. As the first article is being formed another blank is placed onthe other turning device. Pneumatic clamps are providedfor securing theblanks to the turning devices, and these clamps have conduits leading tothe valve device, whereby their action is synchronized with the actionof the ram for the swing table.

In the case of making circular constructions, the form of which aredetermined by the form of the cutter, it is not necessary to usepatterns, and in that case adjustable stops are positioned to controlthe limits of motion of the swing bracket.

The general purposes and construction of the machine as above outlinedare attained by the use of a construction as detailed in the drawings.

The routing machine to which the attachment is applied is merely shownin outline, Fig. 1. The frame casting I of the router supports thecustomary work table 2 which is vertically adjustable by means of a handwheel 3. A cutter 4 is secured by means of a chuck 5 to a verticallyshiftable spindle unit 6, all as customary in this type of routingmachine and with connections inside the frame structure I leading totreadle I. The treadle adjustment is maintained by disengageable spindlelock 8. The spindle is usually driven by a belt drive from an electricmotor, not shown, but mounted within the frame structure I. Controlswitches and safety devices for the motor are also omitted from thedrawings.

The turning attachment has a fixed base H) which is secured to table 2by the clamp elements ll shown in sectional detail in Fig. 9. The base I0 supports a swing bracket I 2.

The base I 8 also supports a two-way pneumatic ram construction I3. Airunder pressure is admitted to either head of the cylinder of the ramthrough conduits l4 and I5 having conduit connections l6 and I1 throughthe fittings I8 and IS, with a tw0-way valve construction 28 secured tothe floor. The valve is operated by a rocker pedal 2| whereby air underpressure from a supply conduit 22 is permitted to pass along eitherconduit I 6 or conduit I1 to the ram and determine the direction ofmovement of the piston in the latter.

The piston rod 23, Fig. 2, is pivoted to a swing table shift lever 24.The function of this lever is to swing the table for the purpose ofbringing one or the other of the rotary work supports 25 and 26 tooperative position with reference to cutter 4 and to, at the same time,operate a clutch 21, Fig. 3, for these work supporting tables so thatthe one which is in operative position is rotated and the one which ismoved away from the cutter stops rotating. Thus, each table is at restat the time of removal of the finished article and the replacement of ablank thereon.

The combined functions of the shift lever 24 are taken care of bypivoting this lever on a fixed post 28 supported on the swing table l2and limiting the movement of the lever by a pin 38 extending from theswing table into a slot 3i in the lever.

One arm of the lever carries a fork 32, Fig. 3, for engagement with thecollar of clutch 21.

The drive shafts 33 and 34 for the rotary turn tables 25 and 26 aredriven through worm gearings 35 and 36 and the clutch by drive shaft 31to which the central clutch element 21 is splined, while the clutchelements 38 and 39 are rigid with the worms on sleeves looselysurrounding the shaft. Shaft 31 carries the pulley 40 which is driventhrough belt 4| by a pulley 42 carried by the shaft of motor 43. Themotor is mounted on the swing table to move therewith.

Each turn table'25 and 26 is journaled for rotation in bearings shown inFig. 5. These bearings consist of a lower post bearing 44 and an upperconical bearing 45. Each turn table carries a worm gear 46 meshing witha worm 41 on the respective drive shafts 33 or 34.

The turn tables 25 and 26 as shown in Fig. 5, support patterns 48 forengagement with a fixed guide roller 49 concentric with the cutter butcarried by a bracket 58, Fig. 1, fixed to the frame casting Ill. Thebracket 50 with the frame casting I0 forms a guideway for an arm 5| ofthe swing table l2. The outer limits of movement of the swing table aredetermined by stops 52, Fig. 2, adjustable along arcuate guides 53formed in brackets 50. A handle 54 projects upwardly from arm 5| so thatthe'swing table may be moved by hand when desired. A detail of arm 5i isshown by Fig. '7.

Pneumatic clamps are provided for holding the work operated upon inposition on turn tables 25 or 26 while the cutter is operating. One ofthese clamps is shown in detail by Fig. 8. Each comprises a pressureroller 55 mounted for rotation on thrust bearings 56, carried by arms51. These arms are clamped to vertically movable slides 58. The slidecastings 58 are suspended from bolts 59 resting on spring 60. Thesesprings are supported on cylinder castings 6| which are adjustablysecured on vertical posts 62 carried by swing bracket l2.

A piston 63 is supported on each casting 58 and fits a relatively fixedcylinder 64. The clamp is moved down against an article to be operatedupon by admitting air under pressure to the cylinder above the piston.In that manner the piston and the parts attached thereto are thrustdownwardly against action of spring 60. The lower position of the clampis indicated by the broken lines 65, Fig. 8, and the clamped object isindicated by the broken lines 66.

The fitting 61 through which air is admitted communicates by a conduit68 with one of the T-fittings l8 or l9, Fig. 2, having connections withthe air supply through valve structure 20, Fig. 1. Because of theseconnections the clamps are synchronized in their operation with the raml3 and as customary when the valve 20 is adjusted to admit air underpressure to one of the conduits IE or i 1, it allows for relieving thepressure on one side of the ram and from one of the clamps through theother conduit.

The working of the attachment is briefly as follows:

An essential is a cutter of proper form and diameter for the contour ofthe finished product and if the articles to be manufactured are notcircular in outline it is necessary to use patterns on the turn tables25 and 26. Adjustment of the clamp units on the post 62 is madeaccording to the height of the article, and the cutter spindle islowered to its operative position by treadle i and is latched in suchposition at 8, Fig. 1. A

blank from which an object is to be formed is placed on that turn tablepositioned away from the cutter. The circuits of the spindle motor andmotor 43 are closed and the rocker 2| of the valve unit 2|] is shifted.This causes the object to be operated upon to be clamped to itsrespective turn table and at the same time ram l3 operates to shift theswing bracket to bring the object into cutting position.

While this occurs lever 24 rocks as required to clutch the worksupporting table to its respective drive shaft. As the work is rotatedit may move in and out with reference to the cutter according to thepattern on the same table. The cutter normally is rotated at about25,000 R. P. M. and about six to ten articles of simple design may bemade per minute by well-timed operations of valve 20 and the removal andreplacement of the stock.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising, a frame structure, asupport pivoted for oscillation on said frame structure, a cutterspindle mounted for rotation in said frame structure, a pair of turntables mounted for rotation in the said pivoted support, a motor on saidsupport and drive connections between said motor and turn tables, aclutch in said drive connections for making the drive effective foreither of said turn tables, means for shifting said support to bring oneor the other of the turn tables into cooperative relation with thecutter spindle, and said means including a clutch shifting element toinsure the automatic operation of said clutch on each shift of saidsupporting structure. I

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame structure'in which ismounted a cutter spindle, a support pivoted on said frame structure foroscillation relatively to said cutter spindle,

a pair of turn tables mounted for rotation in said pivoted support, eachof said turn tables being of conical form and resting in a conicalbearing, means mounted on the frame structure having connections withsaid support for oscillating the support and bringing one or the otherof the turn tables into operative relationship with the cutter spindle,said connections including a clutch operating lever, a. clutch operatedby said lever, and driving means for each of said turn tables under thecontrol of the clutch.

3. An attachment of the class described comprising a stationarysupporting means with clamps for securing said supporting means to thework table of a routing machine, a swing bracket pivoted on said supportand carrying a pair of turn tables which may be alternately brought intocooperative relationship with the cutter spindle of the routing machine,means on said swing bracket for driving the turn tables, clamping meansfor securing work operated upon on each of said turn tables, a clutch inthe drive means for connecting one or the other of the turn tablestherewith, and interconnected means for simultaneously impartingmovement to the swing bracket operating the clutch and operating theclamps.

4. A routing machine comprising a frame structure having mounted thereina rotary cutter spindle, a work table on said frame structure andattachments secured to said work table including a pivoted swing bracketin'which is mounted for rotation a pair of turn tables and clamps forsecuring work operated upon on said turn tables, and means under manualcontrol for alternately causing the drive of said turn tables and theoperation of the clamps.

, RUDOLPH ONSRUD.

